Just too many varieties of grapes yet to be tasted for a first time. This has been one fantastic year of enlightenment for me when it comes to all things wine. Believe I may do a year end article on the subject. If I do, I will have to include the German grape, Dornfelder as one of the highlights. MORE >>

Top three include 2006 Domaine de Cassagnoles Vin de Pays des Côte de Gascogne Reserve Cuvée Gros Manseng, 2005 Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet Sur Lie Clos des Briords, and 2005 Le Bourcier Mâcon Cuv é e Elena. Tasting with friends: 12 Year Old Long Island wines with Lenn and company. Kind of hard to believe. So good. MORE >>

I'd like to thank Kristen and her good friends for helping me taste this flight of wine picks for Thanksgiving. Te Muna Road Vineyard Craggy Range Pinot Noir, 2009, New Zealand From the region of Martinborough, 100% Pinot Noir grapes are fermented in open-top tanks followed by aging in 33% new French oak barriques for 10 months. MORE >>

We like to end the class in style: a giant edition of show and tell and taste. Each participant brings in a wine to present to the class, which means we get to taste about 25 wines that evening. Sadly, Tibor Gal died too young in a car accident in 2005. For some odd reason, Mrs. Vino always refers to this as the party, but no! MORE >>

Almost all that I had ever tasted were the Shiraz from Australia. While visiting Damiani Wine Cellars on Seneca Lake this past spring I tasted an excellent Syrah and I was sold. Then again maybe I just have to taste a few more and that's not a bad thing now, is it? From that day on I was a fan. MORE >>